Machine for making flexible metal fabric.



A. G. PRATT.

MACHINE r011, MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED A1912, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SKEETSSHEET 1.

WIT/V 8858 ATTORNEYS A.- C. PRATT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

. APPLICATION TILED AFB. 2, 1913. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY8 ALPHONSO G. PRATT, F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY..

MACHINE FOR MAKING FLEXIBLE METAL FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28,1914.

Application filed April 2, 1913. Serial No. 758,440.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALPHONSO C. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Flexible Metal Fabric, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making fabric consisting of a multipliclty of links which are interlocked to form a mesh, such mesh being used to a large extent in jewelry work.

. The invention is directed particularly to the production of a machine for making mesh consisting of small rings and small fiat plates, each of the plates being of cruciform shape and having its four ends interlocked with rings. Mesh of this character has been made heretofore but so far as I am aware has been made only by hand; and the object of the invention is to provide a machine for making such mesh automatically, the several links being fed into position and linked together without requiring manual manipulation. 1

In accordance with the invention a piece of link mesh is mounted upon a suitable support and links of two different sets are fed thereto, one set consisting of the rings and the other set consisting of the small cruciform plates. As each of these plates is fed to the machine, it is automatically linked and interlocked with three of the rings of the mesh and one ring which has just been fed to the mesh. Preferably, the rings are fed to the machine in the form of a continu ous strip of rings arranged in line, each ring being integrally connected to the adjacent ones at diametrically opposite points. Also the cruciform plates are fed into the machine in the form of a continuous strip cut out so as to produce a multiplicity of the plates arranged in line and integrally connected at their adjacent edges. This alfords aready means for supporting the links and manipulating them up to the time when they are individually operated upon. At a suitable point in the operation of the machine in making the mesh, each link is severed from the strip by a suitable cutter.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will now describe the type of machine which I prefer to employ in making mesh of the character above indicated but it will be understood that this form of machine is merely typical of machines which may be constructed in accordance with the invention and that the invention is not limited to a machine 'of the construction shown.

- In these drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine broken away in part, Fig. 3 is a detail partial view of the mandrel, Figs. 4 to 8 are views illustrating different positions of certain of the parts, Figs. 9 to 13 are views of the mesh and the strips from which it is formed, and Fig. 14 is a view of certain parts of the operating mechanism.

Referring to these drawings, 1 indicates a support or table upon which most of the parts of the machine are mounted. A stationary mandrel 2 projects upwardly from this table and has a cylindrical portion the surface of which is rovided with spiral threads as shown at 3 in Fig. 3. A ring 4 is stationarily mounted encircling the mandrel 2 and forms a bearing for a sleeve 5 the interior surface of which is provided with vertically disposed ridges as indicated in Fig. 1. The sleeve 5 is arranged to be rotated step by step and for this purpose is provided with ratchetteeth 6 at its upper end which areengagecl by a pawl 7 This pawl is pressed by a spring 8 toward the ratchet 6 and is located in an opening in an arm on the upper end of a rod 9 which is adapted to be rocked in suitable bearings. This rod 9 has an arm 10 secured thereto which is enwhich is actuated by a cam 18 mounted upon a power-shaft 14. As shaft 14: is rotated, the arm 10 is actuated at regular intervals to cause the pawl 7 to turn ring 6 one step. Between the ring 5 and the mandrel 2 is a narrow space adapted to receive a piece of link-mesh fabric in the form of a sleeve. The formation of this fabric is such that spiral depressions are formed upon the inner side thereof and the spiral ridges 3 upon the mandrel 2 enter these depressions. Also the formation of this fabric is such that vertical grooves appear upon the exterior surface thereof and into these grooves the vertical ridges on the interior surface of the ring 5 extend. By reason of the provision of these ridges arranged as described, when the ring 5 is rotated step by step the ridges thereon cause the sleeve of mesh to be rotated with the rings and as the sleeve of mesh'is rotated thus it is raised vertically by reason of the v three rings of the mesh and the-one ring on spirally arranged ridges on the mandrel 2. After shaft 9 is rocked by the rod 11, it is returned by a spring 15 coiled thereon and its return movement, is arrested at the proper point by an arm 16 on shaft 9 engaging the frame of the machine. At retaining pawl 17 holds the ratchet 6 against backward rotation.

The type of mesh which is to be made on the machine is shown in Fig. 13. From this figure it will be seen that the mesh consists dividual links may be cut from this strip at a suitable point in the operation of the ma chine so as to form a ring, as shown in Fig.

10. At the beginning of any one operation of the machine, three of the four rings 18 which are to be united by the next plate 19 are parts of the mesh already made. Before: adding the next plate 19, it is merely neces-i sary to position one more ring 18 relatively@ to these three rings of the mesh so that the; plate may be interlocked with all four of; these rings. This is preferably done by holding the strip 20-of integrally connected rings 18 in such a position that the end link thereof will be in the proper posit-ion. This having been-done, the next plate 19 is moved into position and its ends curled around the the end of strip 20, and thereafter this end ring of strip 20 is severed from the stripfl Preferably the plates 19 are also fed into the 1 machine in the form of a continuous strip of integrally connected links. This strip may also be made of sheet-metal, this being cut to cruciform links may be cut such as that shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the table of the machine has two reels 22 and 23' mounted for rotation thereon. The reel 22 contains the continuous strip 20 of connected rings. This strippasses through a guide 24 mounted upon the table 1 and in the side of this guide, or trough, is an opening adapted to receive the end of a feeding finger 25. This finger is pivotally'mounted upon the end of an arm '26 and pressed. by aspring 27 toward the strip 20. The arm '26 is pivotally mounted and connected to an arm '28 which is adapted to be engaged by a rod 29 reciprocating in an opening in a block 30 mounted on the table 1. The rod 29 is reciprocated by a cam 31 on the power-shaft 14. A

spring 62 connected to arm 28 and block 30 25 is reciprocated and its end catches in one of the openings in the stri 20 so that the finger moves the strip 20 orwardly a distance equal to the width of one ring of the strip. The strip 21 of cruciform links is fed forward through a guide 32 on table 1 in substantially the same manner, by means of a cam 33 on shaft 14 operating the rod 34. When the strip 21 is fed forward in this way, its end is projected in front of a plunger 35. This plunger has an opening therethrough in which a die-rod 36 is adapted to reciprocate. The plunger 35 is guided by a housing 37 secured upon the table 1 and a pin which moves in a slot 38 in the table 1. This plunger has an offset thereon as shown in Fig. 1, so that through the major portion of its length it is displaced from and parallel to the die-rod 36. The rear end of the displaced portion of the plunger 35 carries a roller 39 which coacts with a cam 40 on the power-shaft 14. The die-rod 36 is simithe periphery of a*cam 41 on power-shaft 14.

Springs 42 hold these two rollers in engagement with their respective cams. The outer edge of the end of plunger 35 is adapted to serve as a cutter for severing the end link from the strip 21; for this purpose the edge of plunger 35 coacts with the end of the guide 32 through which the strip 21 passes. After the link has been severed its ends are bent at right angles to the body-portion thereof by the plunger 35 coacting with an anvil 43. This-anvil is formed upon the end of anarm which is carried by a rod 44, which rod reciprocates in guides 45 and 46 secured upon table 1. A spring 47 coiled about rod .44 holds one end of the rod alwaysin engagement with a cam 48 mounted upon the power-shaft 14. The rod 44 has a pin thereon which moves in a slot 49 in the housing 45. This slot, as shown in Fig. 1, has a straight portion and at the end thereof an inclined portion. By reason of this provision, when the rod 44 is reciprocated toward the-right, as shownin Fig. 1, the anvil 43 is moved away from the link and toward the mesh on the mandrel 2, and

thereafter the anvil is raised out of the ion inseam gral with or secured to a rod 51 reciprocating in suitable supports on the under side of table 1. This rod is actuated by a bellcrank lever 52, connected thereto at one end and at the other end provided with a roller which rides upon the periphery of a cam 53 secured upon shaft 14. A spring 54 acts upon lever 52 to hold this roller always in engagement with'the cam.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 8 which illustrate the sequence of operations, Fig. 4 shows the plunger and the die-rod in their most retracted positions, which positions they occupy when the strip 21 is fed forward. In this figure the strip is shown as having been fed forward through the guide 32 a distance equal to the length of one link. The anvil 43 is shown on the side of the link opposite the plunger 35. The parts on the opposite sides of the link are separated by just enough space to permit the strip 21 to pass freely between them. This figure also shows the mandrel 2 and a portion of the mesh thereon. The end ring 54 of this piece of mesh corresponds to the ring indicated by the reference 54 on Fig. 13. The strip 20 is also shown as having being fed through guide 24 so that the end ring of the strip projects beyond the end of the guide. Directly back of this end ring and the ring 54 is the die-member 50 whose end is adapted to project through an opening in the wall of the mandrel. \Vith the parts in this position the first movement that takes place is a'movement of the plunger 35. As

- the plunger advances it engages the link 19 of strip 21 and severs this link from the strip, but before the link is completely severed it is pressed into sufficiently hard con-.

tact with the end of anvil 43 to preclude the possibility of the link slipping downwardly. After the link has. been severed the continued movement of plunger 35 causes the four ends of the link to be folded over the end of anvil 43, thus bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5. At this time the end of plunger 35 projects beyond the end of the die-rod 3G and the link lies with in the plunger as shown. The anvil 43 having completed its function is then withdrawn. This withdrawal of the anvil is effected by cam 48 which moves the rod on which the anvil is carried axially and as the rod is so moved it is turned on its axis sufiicient to carry the anvil out of the path of movement of'the plunger, as heretofore explained. This movement of the anvil may take place during a continuous movement of the die-rod and plunger, and if so the movement of the anvil is effected at substantially higher speed to insure that the anvil will be moved from engagement with the link and out of the path of the plunger so as not to interposition in which they are shown in Fig. 5 except that the anvil 43 has been withdrawn from contact with the link and has been moved upwardly above the level of the plunger. The plunger and die-rod then move forwardly carrying the link with them until the. link approaches the mesh on the mandrel whereupon the dierod 36 is moved forward a small amount independently of the plunger This causes the ends of the link to be projected beyond the end of' the plunger 35 and these four ends of the link are niserted through three of the rings of the mesh and the ring at the end of the strip 20. The three rings of the mesh through which the ends of the link are projected are the ring 54, the ring directl above 54, and thering indicated by the reference 55 on Fig. 13. As the movement of the plunger 35 and dierod 36 continue beyond this point, the diemember 50 is moved up on the other side of the mesh by means of its cam 53 and the continued movement of the plunger 35 causes its end to shear ofl the end ring of strip 20. At this time the dierod 36 moves independently of plunger 35 so that its end alines with the end of the plunger. This expels the link from within the plunger. The position of the parts at this time is shown in Fig. 8. The movement of the parts to this final position causes the ends of the link to engage curved surfaces upon the die-member 50 and causes these curved surfaces to curl the ends of the link around so that these ends grasp the four rings through which they had been projected. When these movements of the parts of the link-formin tool are completed, the coacting faces of the parts on opposite sides of the mesh are close together and the ends of the link are curled around so far as to insure a strong interlock between these ends of the link and the four rings. The operation of adding two links to the mesh, one a cruciform link and the other a ring, is thus complete and the parts of the link forming tool are then retracted for a repetition of the op eration. The die-member 50 is retracted by spring 54 when this is permitted by cam 53 and the plunger and die-rod are retracted by their springs 42. As this occurs the ring 5 is rotated one step by the cam 13 operating the pawl 7. This causes the-sleeve. of mesh on mandrel 2 to be turned about the mandrel by the vertical ridges on the interior surface of the ring 5; and as the sleeve of mesh is so turned, it is raised vertically a slight amount by the spiral threads upon the mandrel 2. This movement of the mesh elfected by the ring 5 and the threads, carries the mesh around so as to present to the ringforming tool-the point thereof appropriate for receiving the next links to be added to the mesh. As this occurs the strip 20 is fed forward a distance equal to the length of one ring of the strip. Also after the plunger and die-rod have been retracted the strip 21 is fed forward a distance equal to one link of that strip and at about the same time anvil 43 is restored to its operative position as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. ltshows certain of the cams used in performing these several operations. The cams are shown in the positions in which they appear in Fig. 1, and when in this position the plunger and die-rod arein the positions shown in Fig. 4. Tl'iereafter the plunger is moved out slightLy by cam a0 and the parts assume the Fig. 5 position. \Vhile cams 40 and 41 hold the plunger and die-rod thus, the cam 48 operates the rod 14: to withdraw the anvil 4:3. The die-rod and plunger are then moved out by the raised portions on cams 40 and 41 and operated as above set forth and while they are so moved out the raised portion on.

cam 53 operates'the die-member 50.

In machines for making link-mesh e'mploying a mandrel construction of the'type shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it has been common heretofore to carry a sleeve of mesh made by the machine upwardly from the machine, as for instance, by attaching its end to a cord running over a pulley and having a weight at its end. In the present machine,

however, the finished mesh is supported or gathered in a manner which is much more convenient. It will be noted that the mandrel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is hollow. It is made hollow so as to permit the sleeve of finished mesh to be carried downwardly through the mandrel and to accumulate in a pan or receptacle 56 below the mandrel. The receptacle 56 is supported so that it will be turned, step by step, in accordance with the turning movement which is given to the sleeve of meshduring the operation of the machine. For this purpose the receptacle 56 is supported upon a plate 57 having ratchet teeth thereon, which ratchet teeth are engaged by a pawl 58 upon the rod 9. This rod 9 is the one which carries the pawl 7 for operating the sleeve 5; therefore the pan 56 will be rotated step by step in accordance with the movement of the mesh encircling the mandrel. After the machine has been in operation a short time so that the sleeve of mesh begins to rise above the ratchet 6, the edge of this sleeve is directed inwardly and thereafter the end of the sleeve will move downwardly through the hollow mandrel until it arrives at the pan 56 and thereafter the mesh will accumulate in the pan. The dotted line. in Fig. 2 indicates the path of movement of the mesh. It is not necessary to provide a support for the sleeve of mesh at the point where it turns inwardly and downwardly as the mesh itself will assume substantially the shape indicated. In order -to prevent the possibility of the mesh en- The means herein shown and described for supporting the sleeve of mesh and moving it step by step circumferentially and axially of the mandrel is substantially the same as that shown in Patent No. 948,615 granted to me February 8, 1910. It will be seen that the operation of the machine herein described is automatic throughout. The sleeve of mesh is moved step by step and during each interval of rest of this step by step movement two links are added to the mesh, these two links being intermeshed, and one of them being intermeshed with the links of the sleeve of link fabric. These two links are of diiferent character, one of them belonging to one set of links and the other belonging to a different set. The link of one of these sets is moved into such position that it lies substantially in the plane of the mesh upon the supporting member; the link of the other set is first individually treated so as to give it the proper shape and is then advanced into 00- action with the mesh on the support and the link of the other set above referred to. Thereafter this shaped link is bent to its final form .in which it interlocks with three of the links of the piece of mesh on thesupport and one new link. I In the machine illustrated one ring an one cruciform plate are added to the mesh during each interval of rest of the step by stepmovement of the sleeve of fabric. It will be understood, however, that two or more sets of link-forming devices might be provided at various points about the axis of the mandrel instead of the one set of ringforming devices shown in the drawings, in which case more than two links would be added to the mesh in each interval of rest. If two or more sets of link-forming devices were employed the arrangement of the spiral threads upon the exterior surface of the mandrel would have to be changed cor respondingly. In the machine shown in the drawing wherein there is but a single set of link-forming devices, a single spiral thread is formed upon the surface of the mandrel, and the spiral arrangement of the rows of links in the sleeve of mesh made on the machine corresponds exactly with this single spiral thread, but if two sets of link-forming devices were employed at opposite sides of the mandrel, the surface of the mandrel would have to be provided with two spiral threads and thesleeve of mesh made on the machine would have the cruciform plates disposed therein in two parallel spiral lines.

The means shown herein for supporting the mesh to which the links are added is veryefiicient and accurate in so supporting the piece of mesh that after each step movement of the mesh the rings thereof with which the next cruciform plate is to be interlocked will be held accurately in the positions in which they should lie in order to permit the ends of the cruciform link to be projected therethrough. I- wish it understood, however, that the invention is not limited to supporting the piece of mesh to which the links are to added by this particular means as other means may be employed for this purpose without departing from the spirit of my invention, such for instance as a means whereby the piece of mesh is held in a plane. Also certain other features of the invention may be employed in machines for making link mesh difi'ering radically from that shown in the drawings. Thus, my improved. method of feeding in the links by having these links initially in the form of a continuous strip of integrally connected links may be employed in mesh machines of various types as may also the provision of a hollow mandrel through which the finished sleeve of mesh may be carried downwardly to a receptacle which is rotated step by step in unison with the movement of the mesh at the point where the links are being added.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A machine for making linkmesh, comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link mesh, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the support,.and means 7 for meshing each link of the second set so fed with a link of the first set and with a link of the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

2. A machine for making link-mesh, com- I prising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the support, and means for simultaneously meshing each link of the second set so fed with one link of the first set and three links of the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

3. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, and means for successively feeding links of a second set into coaction with the mesh on the support and interlocking the ends of each link so fed with a link of said first set and a link of the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

of one set to the mesh on the support, and

means for successively feeding links of a second set into coaction with the mesh on the support and simultaneously interlocking the ends of each link so fed with a link of said first set and three links of the mesh on said support, substantially as set forth.

5. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of' a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the mesh in' the direction of its length and in the direction of its width step by step, and automatic means for adding two intermeshed links to said piece of mesh in each. interval of rest between movements of the mesh, substantially as set forth.

6. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a support fora piece of link-mesh, an automatic tool for adding links to the mesh, means for moving the tool and support relatively step by step to present different points on the mesh to the tool, and means for actuating said tool in each period of rest of said step-by-step movement to link two links together and link one of them to the mesh on said support, substantially as set forth.

7. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, an automatic tool for adding links to the mesh, means for moving the tool and support relatively step by step to present different points on the mesh to the tool, means for supplying links to saidtool in the form of asheet-metal strip cutto form a series of integrally connected links, and means for. actuating the tool to sever a link from said strip and link it with the mesh on said support, substantially as set forth. I i

8. A machine for making link-mesh com prising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, an automatic tool for adding links to the mesh, means for moving the tool and support relatively step by step to present difierent points on the mesh to the tool, means for supplying links to the mesh on said support, means for supplying links to said tool, and means for actuating said tool to cause it to mesh a link fed thereto with one of the links fed to the mesh on the support and-with one of the links in the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

9. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support. for a piece of link-mesh, an automatic tool for adding links to the mesh, means for moving the tool and support relatively step by step to presentdiiferent points "on the mesh to metal strip cut toform a series of integrally connected links, means for supplying links to said tool in the form of a sheet-metal strip cut to form a plurality of integrally connected links, and means for actuating said tool to cause it to sever a link from the strip fed to the tool and mesh said link with a link of the strip fed to the mesh and with a link of the mesh, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine for making link-mesh, the combination of a support for apiece of link-mesh, a die-member movable toward and away from the mesh on said support, an anvil adapted to lie in the path of movement of said die-member, means for feeding-the material for a link between the die-member and anvil, and means for causing the anvil to move from its position adjacent to the end of the die-member first toward the mesh and then laterally out of the path of the diemember, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for making link-mesh, the combination of a support for a, piece of link-mesh, a plunger movable toward and away from the mesh, 2. die-rod movable within the plunger, an anvil having its end facing the end of the plunger, means for feeding the material for a link between the adjacent ends of the anvil and plunger, and means for causing the anvil to move toward the mesh on said support and laterally from the path of movement of the plunger, substantially as set forth.

12.- In a machine for making link-mesh the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, a die-member, means for moving the die-member toward and away from the mesh, an anvil having its end facing the diemember and adapted to be partially inclosed by the end of the die-member when the latter is moved, means for feeding the material for a link between the die-member and anvil, and means for withdrawing the anvil from the path of movement of the die-member, substantially as set forth.

13. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a sup ort for a piece of link-mesh, means for fee ing links successively to the mesh so that the links so fed lie substantially in the plane of the mesh on said support, and means for feeding links successively toward the mesh on said-support and causing each of themto mesh wlth one of the links of the piece of mesh on said support and one of the links fed by said first-named feeding-means, substantially as set forth.

14. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a sup ort for a piece of link-mesh, means for fee ing links of one set to the mesh in a row, and means for feeding links of a second set to the mesh in a row and causing each of them to mesh with a link of the first set and a link of the mesh, substantially as set forth.

. 15. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for feeding links to the mesh in the form of a continuous strip of integrally united links, means for linking each link so fed with the mesh, and means for cutting the individual links from the strip, substantially as set forth.

16. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for feeding links to the mesh in the form of a continuous strip of integrally united links, link-forming tools, means for feeding a continuous strip of links thereto, means for operating said tools intermittently to sever a link from the strip and mesh said linkwith a link of the first-mentioned strip and with a link of the mesh on the support, and means for cutting individual links from said first-mentioned strip, substantially as set forth.

17. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for feedin a continuous strip of links to the mesh so t at one or more of the links of the strip lie substantially in the plane of the mesh on the support, a reciprocating tool, means for feeding a second continuous strip of linksbetween the end of the tool and said support, means for reciprocating said tool to carry a link of said second strip to the mesh on said support and link it with the mesh and with a link of the first-named strip, and means'for cutting individual links of the first-mentioned strip from the strip, substantially as set forth.

18. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a stationary man- 'drel for supporting a circular piece of linkmesh, means for intermittently rotating the mesh and moving it axially on the mandrel, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the mandrel, and means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the mandrel and meshing each of them with a link of the mesh on the mandrel and a link of the first-mentioned set, substan tially as set forth.

19. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a stationary mandrel for supporting a circular piece of link-mesh, means for intermittently rotating the mesh and moving it axially onthe mandrel, means for feedin links of one set to the mesh on the mandre and means for successively feeding links of a second set into coaction with the mesh on the support and simultaneously interlocking the ends of each link so fed with a link of said first-mentioned set and three links of the mesh on the support, substantially as set forth.

20. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a stationary mandrel for supporting a circular piece of linkmesh, means forrotating the mesh and mov ing it axially on the mandrel step by step, and automatically operated devices for linking two links together and linking one of them to the mesh on the mandrel during each interval of rest of said step-by-step a spiral thread thereon, a sleeve surrounding the mandrel and having ridges on the interior surface thereof, said sleeve andman drel being adapted to receive a sleeve of mesh between them which extends over the upper edge of the mandrel and downwardly through the same, a receiver for the mesh below the mandrel, means for rotating the receiver and said sleeve in unison, and means for adding links to the mesh on the mandrel, substantially as set forth.

23. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a .piece of link-mesh, means for moving the mesh in the direction of its length and in the direction of its width step by step, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the support, and means for meshing a link of the second set so fed with a link of the first set and with a link of the mesh on the support during each period of rest of said step by step movement, substantially as set forth.

24. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, means for moving the mesh in the direction of its length and in the direction of its width step by step, means for feeding links of one set to the mesh on the support, means for feeding links of a second set successively to the mesh on the support, and means for mes." ing a link of the second set so fed with a link of the first set and with three adjacent links of the mesh on the support during each period of rest of said step by step movement, substantially as set forth.

25. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a plece of link-mesh, an automatic tool for adding links to the mesh, means for moving the tool and support relatively step by step to present different points on the mesh to the tool, means for holding links disconnected from the mesh on the support, and means for actuating said tool in each period of rest of said step by step movement to mesh a link with three adjacent links of the mesh on the support and one link positioned by said holding means, substantially as set forth.

,26. A machine for making link-mesh comprising the combination of a support for a piece of mesh, operating devices for adding links to the mesh, means for moving said support and said devices relatively step by step, means for supplying links to said devices in the form of a sheet-metal strip cut to form a series of integrally connected links, and means for actuating said devices to cause them to sever a link from said in the form of a continuous strip of integrally connected links, and means for actuating said devices to cause them to sever a link from said first-named strip and link it with a plurality of the links of the mesh on said support and a link of said secondnamed strip, substantially as set forth.

28. A machine for making link-mesh, comprising the combination of a support for a piece of link-mesh, meansfor feeding a continuous strip of .integrally connected links to the mesh on the support so that the end link of the strip lies substantially in the plane of the mesh, means for feeding other links to the mesh and linking each of them with a link of the mesh and a link of said strip, and means for severing thelinks of said strip, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination of means for supporting a plurality of rings, die-members on opposite sides of the rings so supported, means for feeding links of cruciform shape successively to the die-members, and means for operating the die-members to project the ends of a cruciform link through rings on said support and then bend said ends to cause them to grasp the rings, substan- This specification signed and witnessed this 24th day of March, 1913.

ALPHONSO c. PRATT.

\Vitnesses: v

I. McIN'rdsH, J. F. COLLINS. 

